Send-off address by President Jacob Zuma to South African Business Delegation that will attend the World Economic Forum Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Park Hyatt Hotel, Rosebank
Minister Gordhan,
Compatriots from business,
Good morning to you all.
We are pleased to be able to meet with you before you leave for Davos.
This is a good opportunity for us as South Africans to share ideas on how to present our beautiful country in Davos. World Economic Forum (WEF) is an excellent platform for engagement on world issues, in particular to promote a more equitable economic world order. It is also an important platform to flag on the world stage, issues that are of concern to the African continent and to push the African agenda in general.
As we all know, the WEF meeting in Davos is also one of the foremost marketing opportunities for nations and business around the world. Each year, we also do all we can as South Africa to put our best foot forward and present our country to the world. South Africa is easy to sell. Our country is successful with lots of potential.
Although some challenges still which remain given our history, these are being attended to. We remain a nation at work for a better life, striving each day to do better. Our founding President, Tata Nelson Mandela and the first democratic administration laid a firm foundation and we continue to build on that foundation to take the country forward.
We are pleased that all of us put our country first when we are in Davos and sell South Africa. And indeed there is a lot to communicate about our country. There are some achievements that we can speak of as South Africans which will generate confidence amongst investment partners.
It is indisputable that South Africa is now a much better place than it was before 1994. We have all worked hard as individuals, as groups, and as sectors to ensure success in many areas. Over the past five years things have been difficult economically due to the global economic and financial crises. But we have emerged better than other economies due to a solid economic foundation and direction.
Jobs remain a big headache for all of us, although there are positive signs. The economy regained the one million jobs which we had lost as a result of the 2008 global economic crisis.
We are pleased that since 1994, five million more people are employed, with total employment at 14 million people. Obviously we want more jobs, which is why the partnership with the private sector, labour and community organisations remains critical to create the right environment.
The private sector accounts for 70% of the South African economy, and must therefore actively contribute to inclusive growth, investment, social development and economic transformation.
Looking to the state only to create jobs as it happens in South Africa is a non-starter. We must work together to promote job-creating inclusive growth. Our role as government in particular is to create a conducive environment for growth. We are doing a lot already and also plan to do more going forward. We are looking at consolidating the industrialisation programme, and to expand the successful infrastructure programme.
We are also continuing to prioritise education and skills development especially to empower the youth and grow our country’s skills base. We also have to expand our support of small businesses and cooperatives, invest in science and technology to promote innovation.
The National Development Plan (NDP) outlines most of the objectives and work that should be done and that will be done to help us achieve the desired socio-economic development and growth and development by 2030. Within the NDP vision, critical policy instruments will continue to drive government’s policy agenda. These include the New Growth Path and the Industrial Policy Action Plan, which supports the re-industrialisation of the economy.
The New Growth Path identifies six critical job drivers, which we are promoting for investments. These are agriculture, mining, tourism, the green economy, manufacturing and infrastructure development. Therefore, we have an advantage in our country as we have a socio-economic blueprint that enjoys overwhelming support by many sectors of society, the NDP.
As you engage the world you will be able to say we know exactly where we want to be by 2030 and we are working very hard to get there as South Africans. We are busy factoring the NDP into the draft Medium Term Strategic Framework that will be discussed by the Cabinet that will be appointed after elections in its first Lekgotla.
In a few months, the Plan will have been mainstreamed in the work of every government department. Thus the establishment of the National Planning Commission was one of our major success stories in this fourth administration. We are truly proud of the progress made in producing the NDP. We do trust that the private sector will also factor the NDP into its own strategic plans in every company so that we move seamlessly together.
Compatriots,
I truly regret that I will not be joining you in Davos this time due to work pressure at home related to preparations for the elections and the transition to the fifth democratic administration.
I always enjoy the engagements and productive interactions in Davos. I wish you well in your deliberations and all your work there.
For those of you, who will be going to Davos for the first time, do not forget your snow shoes and very heavy coats. It can be very cold over there, in the literal sense! We know that you will all represent the country well. We wish you all the best.
I thank you!
